National Republican., 1887-09-17
After a Hundred Years.

After a Hundred Years.
To-day is the hundredth anniversary OF
the day when the constitution of the United
States was signed. Niuety.nine years ago
in our nelehboring city OF Philadelphia the
confederation, by which the attempt had
been made to bind the newly formed
states together, having proved rope OF
sand, was changed. There was no
power in the national government. Aud
those who hoped to see great nation
formed out of the Anglo-Saxon colonies
that had just freed themselves from En-.
Zlish rule, saw that stronger government
must be made or ruin would come to their
hopes.
Virginia led In the movement, and on
Jan 21, 1886, passed resolution asking
the other states to meet her IN convention
at Annapolis on the first Monday OF the
next September. The Annapolis conven-
tion was failure, but those present united
in an earnest appeal to Congress to order a
national convention. Finally the general
assembly OF Virginia unanimously adopted
resolution offered by Madison for q
federal convention to meet in Philadelphia
on May ., 1887, to draft constitution
and present 1t to the states. New Jersey
first, then Pennsylvania, North Carolina,
and Delaware approved the plan. Congress
adopted it, and all the states agreed to It
except Rhode Island.
On the 14th of May, 1887, the day finally
set, only Pennsylvania and Virginia were
represented, but their delegates repaired to
ctnto
Joined by Others. On the 18th came South
Carolina, on the 18th New York, on the 2lst
Delaware, on the 22d North Carolina. On
the 2jth William Churchill Houston, OF New
Jersey, previously detained by illhess, ar.
rived, and so the seven states needed for O
quorum were represented-from the south,
four states, with nineteen members; from
the north, three states, with ten members
On motion OF Benjamin Franklin, Wash
ingtcn was unanimously chosen president
Of the convention. On the 2SLh the dele
gates from Massachusetts, and Maryland
arrived. 1t was convention OF learned
men. There were nine graduates Of Prince
ton, four of Yale, and ak Of other col
leges; at least seven were OF SOME emi-
nence In literature; one, a native Of Scotland
had taught in her first universities; a very
large proportion were well read lawyers,
and nearly all had had long and valuable
gress. And to these men was submitted
this problem How shall we combine these
soyereigns into one sovereignty? How
shall we take just enough power from the
thirteen to. form a government sufficient
for all general concerns, especially com,
merce and foreign affairs, and yet leave all
other powers unimpaired In each state?
Four general schemes were suggested:
First The extreme federalist or national
jst plan That the states should be practi
cally abolished; reduced to mere depart.
ments, and on their ruins one strong gov
ernment established-'on the British
model" added Hamilton. The convention
took one good look at this plan and re-
jected it--unanlmously. 1t does not ap
pear that they did more than merely lister
to it's presentation.
Second. The extreme states rights plan
That the confederation should be strength
ened little, so far as to have an inde
pendent revenue and exercise some contro
over commerce, each state to retain It's alb
solute sovereignty as before. The conven
tion considered this at some length and re
jected IL, not quite unanimously.
Third. The moderate nationalist plan.
Fourth. The moderate states' rights plan
out Of the last two, by compromise tht
convention evolved the present constitu-
tion, with the understanding that 1t was tc
be construed according to the plain mean
ing Of the words on these three basic princi
plesi
First. That the power OF the flag, tn,
sword, and the national purse land thes
conftitute sovereignty should be vestet
exclusively In the national government.
Second. That as to these, the public prop
erty, especially the land, certain genera
functions, and all foreign affairs, the people
OF the United States should constitute one
nation.
Third. That Just enough-and no more
powers should be taken from the states tC
constitute government for these genera
purposes, and all other powers remain II
the states as before.
James Madison had the outlines OF con
stitutlon already drawn up. Edmund Ran
dolph, then only 33 years old and governor
OF Virginia, who waVered as to accepting
thepostion of delegate, had presented thu
"Vlrginia plan,n which declared for a pa
tional legislature OF two branches, with
specific powers over national concerns;
national executive to be chosen by the leg,
islature and eligible for but one term;
council OF revision TO examine and approve
the acts OF the Legislature before they
should go into force; a nattbtal judiciary
substantially such as we now have; ma
tional revenue to be collected from tho
states by quotas, and the right OF suffrage
in each state should he the basis OF enum
Grafton for apportioning the quota new
states to be admitted on terms of equality
and each state to be required to have, aut
10 be guaranteed, republican form OF gov
ernment. This plan contained two notable
clauses. One provided for representation